Husk hat.



No. 717,571. PATBNTED JAN. 6, 1903.

s. 0. HEARD;

HUSK HAT.

APPIJGATION FILED APE. '1, 1902.

Wag-ff N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

nu: Mams PEfEns Co.. murmures.. mmnamn. n. c

f PATENTED JAN. 6, 190s. s. o. HEARD.

HUSK HAT.

APPLIoATloN FILED APR. Fr, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE..

sALLIE c. HEARD, or THoMAsvILLE,GEoRG1A,Ass1GNoRTo RALPH H. NEEL, LEE NEEL, oLYDE N. NEEL, AND GEORGE R. NEEL, or THoMAsviLLE,

GEORGIA.

Husa HAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Vlretters Patent No.":717,571, dated January 6, 1903.

Application ined April 7.1902.

To @ZZ whom/ may concern,.-

Be it known that I, SALLIE G. HEARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Thomasville, in the county of rIho'mas andState of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements `in Husk Hats; and I do hereby declare the following to be af ull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention aims to utilize corn-shucks in the manufacture of hats, because of the lightness, toughness, and cheapness of thisw material and the ease with which it can be shaped.

The present invention is a new4 use for a material usually wasted, and sun-hats are admirably adapted to be made from corn-shucks, because large-brimmed hats are exceedingly light and cool.

The purpose of the invention is to devise aA construction wherebycorn-shucks can be used as the material entering into the formation of the head-covering. This material is cheap, light, and tough. and will not chip or crack when bent, and hence is admirably adapted to the manufacture of hats. Oornshucks taper in width from butt'to tip and their bers converge toward the tip, and when split theY parts separate parallel with the bers. Hence the divisional parts of the shncks taper and when placed together conform to the increased diameter of the hat with a minimum lap at the longitudinal edges. Corn-shocks when properly cured are tough and can be folded without cracking and are susceptible ofassuming any shape, especially when dampened.

For a full description of the inventionand the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowl# edge of the details of construction 'of the meansfor eecting the result reference is to' be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modication, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichs Figure l is a perspective view of a hat ernbodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse similarly arranged and shaped.

serai no. 101,312. (No man.)

section. Fig. 3 is a sectional perspective of a side portion of the hat. Fig. 4 is a detail view in perspective, showing the manner of overlapping and interlocking the finished ends of adjacent elements. Fig. 5 is a detail view of an element, showing. the initial fold at the pointed end. Fig. 6 is a view of the part shown in Fig. 5, showing the folded'end rebent or folded a second time. Fig. 7 is a detail view of an element, showingthe upturned Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modification, parts being broken aways Corresponding and like parts are referred to infthe following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the saine reference characters. Y

The brim and tip of the hat comprise a series of courses each, the end portions of the courses being overlapped. The elements entering intothe formation of the courses are Thilo the hat is particularly designed for the utilization of corn-shucks, it is to be understood that any selected material may be employed in the formation of a hat in accordance with this invention. The tip of the hat comprises a plurality of courses, the outer ends of the lelements of one course overlapping the inner ends of the elements of the othercourse. The inner ends ofthe element vof the innermost course are concealed by a finishing-piece l, stitched` orotherwise secured to the tip. give va unique and novel appearance to the hat, the outer ends of the elements of the several courses are pointed, as shown at 2, these points being formed in the manner presently to bedescrbed. The tipiis stiffened andstrengthened by a lining 3, of stout paper or other selected material adapted for this purpose. The brim is` composed of upper and lower courses, with an interposed linings, to which the elements of the said courses are secured by stitching or other means. The under brim 5 consists of but one course, and the elements have their outer ends folded over the rim 6 and their inner ends bent to lie against the inner face of the lining 7 of the side crown. The upper brim is composed of a series of courses, the outer ends of the elements of the IOO outermost course overlapping the outer bent ends S of the under-rim elements 5, stitched thereto. The inner ends of the elements of the innermost course of the upper brim are bent to lie against the outer face of the lining 7, as shown at 9, and are stitched thereto and to the inner bent ends 10 of the underbrim elements 5. The elements 11, forming the outer course or layer of the side crown, overlap the bent ends 9 of the elements comprising the inner course of the upper brim. The lower ends of the elements 11 touch the upper brim at the angle formed between the brim and side crown, and the upper ends of the elements 11 are bent over the square, so as to overlap the outer portion of the tip-1ining 3, to which it is stitched by the thread, securing the pointed ends of the outermost elements of the tip to the lining 3.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the side crown comprises elements 11 and parts 9 and 10, and itis stiened and strengthened by the lining 7, which is confined between the bent ends 9 and 10 of the brim elements. The side crown is finished by having a band 13 applied thereto, and this band is composed of sections having their ends lapped and their overlapping ends pointed. This band 13 is formed of corn-shucks or material similar to that entering into the formation of the hat.

As previously stated, the courses of the tip and brim are composed of elements 14, which are placed together so as to lap at their longitudinal edges, the several elements being secured together by rows of stitching, as indicated. The outer ends of the elements are pointed, as shown at 2, and these points are formed by folding an end portion of the element 14 so as to project from the body of the element at an angle, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 5. The bent end 15 is again folded upon itself, so as to lie parallel with the 'body of the element, as indicated in Fig. 6, thereby completing the point. In assembling the elements the outer end portion of each is passed between the bent end 15 and 'the body of the element adjacent, thereby resulting in the provision of a neat finish and substantial joint.

It will be observed that the joint between the side crown and the tip and brim is substantial, also that the shape of the hat is preserved by the linings 3, 4:, and 7. The tip-lining 3 overlaps the side crown-lining 7 and is supported thereby. Attention is also directed to the further support of the lining 3 by the free ends of the bent portions 10 of the under-brim elements 5, which normally stand a short distance from the lining 7 and engage with the lining 3. The hat is finished in any desired way and is provided with the usual sweat-band 1G and inner crown-lining 17.

An essential feature of the invention resides in the arrangement of the elements entering into the formation of the courses, said elements being radially disposed and secured together in series and to the respective linings by rows of stitching. The linings form a base for the reception of the elements, thereby enabling the latter to be placed in position one at a time in successive order.

Some of the courses, preferably the outer ones, have upturned points 18, formed by folding the elements and arranging the folds to stand upward and gradually sloping the parts adjacent to fold to the plane of the brim or tip.

In the construction shown in Fig..8 the tip, side crown, and brim are separately formed, each being covered by a single course of shuck elements, and the parts are fitted together and stitched through the angle or square formed at the juncture of the parts.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. As a new article of manufacture, a hat formed of corn-shucks having an approximately radial arrangement and lapped at their longitudinal edges and secured to one another by parallel rows of stitches, substantially as set forth.-

2. A hat comprising a lining, corn-shucks or like elements arranged upon the lining in about radial lines and lapped at their longitudinal edges, and parallel rows of stitches securing the radial elements to one another and to the lining, substantially as set forth.

3. A hat comprising elements arranged in courses and in parallel and radial disposition, the courses and the longitudinal edges of the elements being overlapped, and rows of stitches securing the elements and the courses together, substantially as specified.

4. A hat comprising courses, each course being composed of elements having their outer ends folded and having their longitudinal edges lapped with a portion of the underlapped edge secured between the overlapped part and the bent end of the elements, substantially as set forth.

5. A hat comprising courses, each course being composed of radially-disposed elements having their outer ends folded and rebent providing points, substantially as set forth.

6. In a hat comprising a tip and side crown, inner and outer elements comprising the side crown, the outermost elements having their upper ends bent over the square and secured to the tip, substantially as set forth.

7. In a hat, a tip comprising a lining and an outer covering, and the side crown com- IOO IIO

prising alining and inner and outer elements,

lapping the outer bent end of the under brim and secured lthereto and having its inner portion bent to lie against the outer face of the side crown and secured thereto and to the inner bent ends of the under brim, substantially as set forth.

9.V In a hat comprisingacrown and a brim, the side crown comprising a lining and the brim comprising a lining and an upper'anda lower brim, the under brim being composed of elements lapped at their longitudinal edges and having their outer ends bent over the rim and their inner ends bent up against the inner face of the side crown, and the upper brim being composed of courses, each course being composed of elements lapped at their,

longitudinal edges and the ends of the outermost elements being stitched through the bent ends of the under-brim elements and the inner ends of the elements of the innermost course being bent to lie against the outer face of the side crown and the said bent ends SAILLIE C. HEARD.

Witnesses:

W. D. HABGRAVE, R. H. N EEL. 

